"Elmer's white glue vs. Elmer's wood glue..." Topic

Was just wondering what people generally do with these.

I learned recently from another forum member that when gluing sheets or pieces of insulation foam to each other or to another surface, that the white glue never fully dries and that only the wood glue version will dry fully. I took that advice when gluing my large terrain boards.

However, I've had other people say that both glues are essentially the same as far as their composition, and that white glue will bond wood to wood as strong as the wood version. Basically their take on it is that the glues are the same and that the supposedly specialized "wood glue" is little more than white Elmer's colored tan to give you a wood feel while you're using it.

But I'm also wondering what your general experiences have been with both glues. I have found that you can use the wood glue version for all the same applications as the white glue; applying flock to terrain and figure bases, gluing porous materials, gluing foam to MDF, etc.

For me, I've kind of reverted over to using the wood glue more than the white glue, it's kind of become my new everything glue, except when I need to use a Liquid Nails or a Gorilla glue for some specific application.

Just wondering what your take on these two glues are.

The main difference is that the wood glue has a lower water content than the white glue.

The wood glue is less likely to warp wood.

The white glue will break down in water. The wood glue will not.

I use the wood glue for basing and for terrain building.

I can get wood glue in one gallon containers, but not white glue. That was my main reason for buying it.

What 45thDiv said. The 'white' glue is PVA, and remains water soluble. The 'Yellow' glue as well as PVA contains aliphatic resins which cross link as the water evaporates rendering it 'water resistant' – it is still weakened by prolonged immersion but does not wash away entirely – bad news if you spill it on the carpet or clothing and don't notice until its dried DAMHIK.

Then you can get even more high tech glues such as Titebond II which is even more waterproof and Titebond III which is not even weakened by prolonged immersion – easier to dissolve the base perhaps. I'm not sure where Welbond(sp?) fits in the scheme of glues, it is water soluble at least until it dries, has no noticeable solvent smell and is claimed to be able to bond metal to wood or paper

Funny, I buy gallons of the white glue all the time (at Lowes). I usually go through at least 4 gallons/year. I find the white version is much easier to paint on or spread with a brush. Much better when you are flocking a lot of terrain items at a time.

I use both. For general purpose gluing I use white glue, for things that I really want to make sure will stay glued I use the wood glue. Wood glue is my main glue for gluing figures to bases. I also use "Tacky Glue" which is a thicker type of white glue.

One use for white glue is as an accelerator for super glue. Put the super glue on one part and a small spot of white glue on the other. Fills small gaps and sets the super glue faster. For a stronger bond I have had really good luck with an epoxy on one part and a bit of super glue on the other, makes the epoxy into an almost instant set.

Wood glue for basing, paper modelling, foam core and balsa.

Thomas, I've never heard of the white glue being used as an accelerator for super glue. I'm going to have to give that a try, thanks. Lloyd

The 'Yellow' glue

Yellow glue???

In the US Elmer's wood glue is yellow in color.

Polyvinyl Acetate Resin Emul­sion Glue. Also called white glue, polyvinyl resin glue is a near relation of that white stuff we used in grade school that was sold under the brand name Elmer's (and, today, under that and about a hundred other names). It will glue china, paper, and wood.

White glue sets fairly quickly, hardening as the moisture contained evaporates and the glue line becomes transparent. It cures hard in a few hours, though when you are clamping glued pieces together, it's best to let them set overnight. When buying white glue, be sure that you are buying full-strength glue, since some are watered down for children's use.

Polyvinyl resin is not water­proof, so is not suitable for damp or exterior application. Also, in situations where the glued pieces will be near a source of heat like a furnace, fireplace, or heater, other glues would be preferable. But white glue is inexpensive, easy to use, non­toxic, and non-flammable. It has a long shelf life (when kept properly sealed), and won't stain your tools or most work-pieces, though metals and oak are exceptions to that rule. White glue works best at room temperatures.

Aliphatic Resin Glue. The generic name carpenter's glue (yellow glue) describes the aliphatic resins. Aliphatic resin glues are actually much stronger than the polyvinyl resins.

This creamy yellow glue dries very quickly (you can leave the pieces clamped a minimum of an hour, but two hours is preferable, and there's no harm in waiting still longer). Carpenter's glue is easy to use, dries a translucent amber color, and is more easily sanded than white glue, which tends to soften due to the heat of the sanding process. Like white glue, however, carpenter's glue is not for use in damp or exterior applications. It sets more quickly at warm temperatures, but can be used effectively at temperatures as low as 45 degrees.

In the US Elmer's wood glue is yellow in color.

Oh. How odd. In the UK wood glue is white.

"Polyvinyl Acetate Resin Emul­sion Glue. Also called white glue, polyvinyl resin glue is a near relation of that white stuff we used in grade school that was sold under the brand name Elmer's (and, today, under that and about a hundred other names). It will glue china, paper, and wood.

White glue sets fairly quickly, hardening as the moisture contained evaporates and the glue line becomes transparent. It cures hard in a few hours, though when you are clamping glued pieces together, it's best to let them set overnight. When buying white glue, be sure that you are buying full-strength glue, since some are watered down for children's use.

Polyvinyl resin is not water­proof, so is not suitable for damp or exterior application. Also, in situations where the glued pieces will be near a source of heat like a furnace, fireplace, or heater, other glues would be preferable. But white glue is inexpensive, easy to use, non­toxic, and non-flammable. It has a long shelf life (when kept properly sealed), and won't stain your tools or most work-pieces, though metals and oak are exceptions to that rule. White glue works best at room temperatures.

Aliphatic Resin Glue. The generic name carpenter's glue (yellow glue) describes the aliphatic resins. Aliphatic resin glues are actually much stronger than the polyvinyl resins.

This creamy yellow glue dries very quickly (you can leave the pieces clamped a minimum of an hour, but two hours is preferable, and there's no harm in waiting still longer). Carpenter's glue is easy to use, dries a translucent amber color, and is more easily sanded than white glue, which tends to soften due to the heat of the sanding process. Like white glue, however, carpenter's glue is not for use in damp or exterior applications. It sets more quickly at warm temperatures, but can be used effectively at temperatures as low as 45 degrees."

Thanks for this – very interesting and informative.

Tony

The most common wood glue in the UK is Evo-stik Resin 'W' Woodworking glue and does not appear to be aliphatic.
PDF link

A big ditto to Thomas O, I have been accelerateing superglue with white glue for years.

I have also bought gallons of Elmers white glue, non-wood glue, at craft stores for many years. However now I much prefer to use Aileens tacky glue for all non- superglue requirements. Including foam. Except if I am making big sections such as Hills I will use a wood glue like tite bond. For superglue, I now use Rapid Fix.

Sometimes for big adhesion jobs I will use gorilla glue.

I use wood glue in every application I would use white glue in, including basing/flocking. I also sometimes make a "slurry" of wood glue and sand, watered down, to build up a base for figures with integral bases. When using it for simple basing/flocking, I water it down a bit. I can tell there is definitely a difference between wood glue and white glue, and the newer stuff I get appears to have some sort of particles suspended in the glue. Possibly from the resin additive?

Damon.

Funny, I buy gallons of the white glue all the time (at Lowes)

I can't find white glue in gallons anywhere around me. Multiple craft stores and hardware stores. So I buy the wood glue. Makes no difference to me.

Same for me…here in my part of CT I have found no one that carries gallon-sized white glue any more. I can only find wood glue in gallons. Home Depot does have a larger container of white but it's not even a half gallon I don't think. Goes for over $10. USD

Elmer's white glue has gotten really expensive, the larger containers with the nozzle tip are around $8 USD here. Michaels crafts charges a premium for Elmer's and only sells the smallest sizes, not even worth considering.

However, Home Depot also carries a competitive brand of wood glue that is way cheaper than Elmer's but works really well. Gallon-size is $17. USD I forget the name brand at the moment.